Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh's 11th prime minister on February 17, 2026, five days after his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a victory in the first elections following a 2024 student-led uprising, according to Al Jazeera. His 49-member cabinet includes prominent student leaders Nurul Haque Nur and Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, who played key roles in the uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The 2024 student-led movement, which led to Hasina's resignation, was a pivotal event in Bangladesh's recent history, as reported by Al Jazeera. The new cabinet appointments signal a significant shift in the country's political landscape.
Meanwhile, other nations are grappling with different challenges. Several countries are moving to restrict social media access for children and teens, TechCrunch reported. Australia implemented such measures at the end of the previous year, setting a precedent that other countries are now watching closely. These regulations aim to reduce risks young users face on social media, including cyberbullying and mental health issues. However, critics, including Amnesty Tech, have voiced concerns about the effectiveness of such bans and potential privacy violations.
In the UK, the town of Potters Bar is facing a different kind of upheaval. A property developer applied to build a large data center on farmland near London in September 2024, Wired reported. This sparked local protests, with over 1,000 people joining a Facebook group to oppose the project. Despite local complaints, the government granted planning permission in January 2025.
The evolving landscape of communication is also undergoing significant changes. The shift to remote work during the pandemic accelerated innovation in audio and video technology, according to MIT Technology Review. "Audio and video just working is a baseline for collaboration," said Brendan Ittelson, chief ecosystem officer at Zoom.
In other news, photojournalist Loubna Mrie detailed her experiences in the Syrian revolution in a new memoir, NPR Politics reported. Mrie, whose father was allegedly an assassin for the regime, joined the revolution as a protester and photojournalist. Her memoir, "Defiance," chronicles her experiences.
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